The SSO of Ukraine is systematically preparing for the heating season 2021/2022: the UGSs currently contains 18 bcm of gas
In August 2021, the Storage System Operator of Ukraine increased stocks of natural gas in underground storage facilities by 1 bcm. As of September 1st, the filling level of Ukrainian UGSs crossed the mark of 18 bcm, which is higher than the average of previous years. It is planned to reach the gas level in UGSs of more than 19 bcm. This will be enough to ensure a stable heating season 2021/2022. For example, in 2013-2018, Ukraine was entering winter with reserves of 14.5-17.1 bcm.
Natural gas reserve in UGS
As of the beginning of September, the natural gas reserve in Ukrainian underground storage facilities was 18 bcm* – 30% less than last year.
Gas injection to the UGS
In August 2021, Ukraine's underground gas storage facilities received 1 bcm of natural gas. This is 3.6 times less than in August 2020.
In total, 2.9 bcm have been injected into the UGSs since the beginning of this year's injection season.
Use of "Customs Warehouse" and "short-haul" services
As of September 1, 2021, foreign traders stored 3.3 bcm of gas in the Customs Warehouse regime. This is 58% less than at the same time last year. This includes 2.6 bcm accumulated in the short-haul regime.
Resident companies store 0.9 bcm of gas in the Customs Warehouse regime, which is 1.4 times less than the same period in 2020. This includes 0.7 bcm accumulated in the short-haul regime.
“The current situation in the gas market is radically different from last year, but we continue to move towards the projected level of Ukrainian storage facilities’ filling. So more than 19 bcm of gas will be pumped into underground storages by the beginning of the heating season. This will be enough to secure the passing of the heating season. There are some concerns about the possible re-export of non-resident gas. But in this regard, I can reassure: within four months of the pumping season-2021 non-residents re-exported 0.06 bcm. All other stocks are either sold on the Ukrainian market or remain in the underground storage facilities”, ‒ noted Sergiy Pereloma, acting general director of Ukrtransgaz JSC.
* not including the reserves of Vergunske UGS, located on temporarily occupied territory;
** «Customs warehouse» is a custom regime, which allows the client to save natural gas in storage facilities of Ukraine up to 1095 days without paying taxes and customs duties;
*** «Short haul» is a service that gives the opportunity to receive a discount on transportation between certain points of entry or exit on inter-state connections (power with restrictions), including for further storage of natural gas in Ukrainian UGS.